Loefflers syndrome historical perspective

Löffler's syndrome Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Loefflers syndrome from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
CT
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Loefflers syndrome historical perspective On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Loefflers syndrome historical perspective All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Loefflers syndrome historical perspective
CDC on Loefflers syndrome historical perspective
Loefflers syndrome historical perspective in the news
Blogs on Loefflers syndrome historical perspective
Directions to Hospitals Treating Loefflers syndrome
Risk calculators and risk factors for Loefflers syndrome historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Template:AEI Soroush Seifirad, M.D.[2]

Historical perspective

• In 1909, H. French described the condition for the first time. (REF)
• Then in 1932 Wilhelm Löffler drew attention to the disease in cases ofeosinophilic pneumonia caused by the parasites Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis and the hookworms Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus.
• Finally in 1943 the condition was called Tropical eosinophilia by RJ Weingarten, and later officially named Löffler's syndrome.
• The most well-known case of Löffler's syndrome was in a young boy from Louisiana. He arrived at the hospital reporting a high fever after three days, as well as having rapid breathing. ”He was hospitalized and treated with supplemental oxygen, intravenous methylprednisolone, and nebulized albuterol.” The boy's symptoms quickly subsided and upon further investigation it was discovered that the boy worked caring for pigs. A test was then performed on the pigs' fecal matter and surrounding soil; it contained the parasite that had caused the boy's ailment.
• Another incident again involved a young boy who had suffered from vomiting and a fever for a span of 3 months. When the doctors finally took an echocardiograph of the child they discovered that the “patient’s admission blood count showed leukocytosis with an abnormally elevated level of peripheral eosinophils.” The child was then diagnosed with Löffler's endocarditis, and immediately began immunosuppressive therapy to decline the eosinophilic count.
• Although Löffler only described eosinophilic pneumonia in the context of infection, many authors give the term "Löffler's syndrome" to any form of acute onset pulmonary eosinophilia no matter what the underlying cause. If the cause is unknown, it is specified and called "simple pulmonary eosinophilia". Cardiac damage caused by the damaging effects of eosinophil granule proteins (ex. major basic protein) is known as Loeffler endocarditis and can be caused by idiopathic eosinophilia or eosinophilia in response to parasitic infection.